Vending-machine.



No. 785,883 PATENTBD MAR. 28, 1905.

- J. A. HONABARGER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1904.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0 Z[Za]:9e/;'Inventor;

Httomegs PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

J. A. HONABARGER. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor Httomegs q; wmA/flmamry ES} b9 PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

.3. A. HONABARGBR.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1904.

.3 SHEETSSHEET!3,

. nventor.

UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pater No. 785,883, dated March.28, 1905. Application filed May 4:, 1904. Serial No. 206,394.

To fl/U/ wit/771i it may OOTLOCJVLI.

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. HONABARGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Varsaw, in the county of Ooshocton and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Vending- Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in vending-machines, and whilecapable of general use for the vending of articles of any size isintended more especially for the vending of cigars from originalpackages.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thisclass for the movement of the magazine at intervals with relation to thedischarge of the articles from the magazine, so that a fresh supply ofarticles may be brought adjacent to the delivery-point, this beingparticularly adapted for use in connection With reservoirs, where thearticles are arranged in layers, as in cigar-boxes, where after thedischarge ofone layer from the box the latter may be moved a sufficientdistance to bring the second layer in discharging position.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide improved means fordischarging the articles, and. further, for providing for the supportand the guiding of the package when the latter is inserted in themachine.

WVith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims,it beingunderstood the various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minordetails of the structure may be made without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of acoin-controlled vendingmachine constructed in accordance with theinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is asectional plan view of the machine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa side elevation of a portion of the mechanism, the casing beingremoved. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4with parts in different position. Fig.

6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the machine on the line 6 6of Fig. 3. Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of theescapement mechanism detached.

Similar numerals of referenceare employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The several working parts of the apparatus are arranged within asuitable casing 1, which may be of wood or metal, and said casing may beprovided with one or more openings 2, protected by transparent panels 3,the number of openings being in accordance with the number of reservoirsor magazines which the machine is to contain, and where only a singlebrand of cigars is to be sold only a single opening and single deliverymechanism will be employed; but this may be multiplied to any extent inaccordance with the demand, and three or four or more magazines anddelivery mechanisms may be placed within each casing.

Associated with each of the magazines is a coin-slot 4:, leading to achute 5, by which the coin is delivered to the mechanism which releasesthe delivery apparatus, and below each reservoir is a discharge-openingand a delivery-trough 8 into which the cigars or other articles fall bygravity at each operation of the machine.

In connection with each of the delivery mechanisms there is alsoemployed a push-rod 9, arranged at a convenient point, preferablyadjacent to the trough.

\Vithin the casing are arranged two spaced side frames 10, that areconnected at the front and rear by stationary cross-bars 11 and 12,respectively, these serving as guiding and supporting devices for themagazines, and while it is preferred that the magazines should be in thenature of an original package to be inserted in the machine such, forinstance, as a boX of cigarsit is to be understood that the magazine maybe made as a part of the machine and be filled in the usual manner.

The upper surface of the bar 12 is inclined and serves as a rest for aplate 15, to the rear face of which is secured a preferably noncircularbar 16, that is guided in an opening of similar width formed in the bar11, and this bar serves to maintain the plate 15 in proper position andhold the same rigid during the discharge of cigars or other articles.

To the front face of the plate 15 is secured a preferably metallic plate17, having side flanges 18 for contact with the side of a removablereservoir--such, for instance, as a cigar-box 2()*and these flanges arepreferably yieldable and their upper ends are flared, so as to permitentrance of cigar-boxes of different size. The lower edge of the platehas an outturned flange 21 of a width about equal to the thickness ofthe bottom of a small box, so that it will not interfere with the freedischarge of the cigars, it being understood that when the' box isplaced in position one end is removed and the cigars discharged one byone from the box or, if necessary, two or three cigars may be dischargedat a time in accordance with the quality of cigars.

Usually it is preferred to employ boxes containing fifty cigars, andthese are arranged in the box in the usual rows with twelve in thelowermost layer, thirteen in the second layer, twelve in the thirdlayer, and thirteen in the top layer. \V hen primarily adjusted in themachine, the top layer rests immediately over said trough, so that thetop layer will be first discharged, while the remaining three layersrest on the bar 12, and are held from movement. To accomplish this, thecigar-box and its holding devices are arranged at an oblique angle thatwill be sufiicient to permit the discharge of but a single layer ofcigars at a time, but in the event of accidental movement of the cigarsthe discharge of more than a predetermined number is prevented by meansof a pair of spring-bars 22, carried by across-bar 23 in the upperportion of the machine, the bars bearing against the outermost cigars inthe magazine.

To effect the discharge of single cigars only two pairs of delivery-fingers 25 and 26 are employed, the lower set of fingers 26 beingnormally held in a position under the lowermost cigar and serving tohold all of the cigars from falling to the delivery-trough. The upperset of fingers 25 is retracted, but is spaced from the lower set for adistance about equal to the diameter of one cigar or a distance equal tothe diameter of two cigars, if two are to be delivered at eachoperation.

Near the rear portions of the two side frames are bearing-openings forthe support of a shaft 27, to which is secured a bar or drum 28, that isapproximately elliptical in crosssection, and at the upper and lowerends, respectively, of longer diameter are eyes 29 and 30, the eyes 29being connected to the discharge-fingers 25 and the eyes 30 to thedischarge-fingers 26, so that when the discharging-drum receives rockingmovement in the manner hereinafter described the fingers 25 will beadvanced for the second cigar, and the fingers 26 will at the same timebe retracted and will discharge the first cigar from the machine. On thereverse movement the fingers are moved in the opposite direction untilthe fingers 25 are fully retracted, after which the lower cigar dropsuntil the lowermost of the layer is caught and held by the fingers 26.The return movement of the discharge-drum after each dischargingoperation is accomplished by means of a coiled tension-spring 31, andmovement in the opposite direction will effect the discharge of thecigars to be effected by the pusl'i-rod,which extends through the casingand is pivotally connected at its inner end to an eye at the lowerportion of the discharge-drum. The push-rod, however, is normally lockedduring inward movement, and the discharge-drum is held from returnmovement by means of a plurality of spurs or teeth 33, arranged on theperiphery of the drum, near one end thereof, and these teeth are engagedby a pivoted coin-engaged lever 34, that is supported by the frame, itsupper and rear end normally engaging the first of the teeth of theperiphery, and should the lever from any cause descend after beingpartly moved by the insertion of a coin it will engage the second orthird tooth and stop further movement of the drum before the delivery ofthe cigar can be accomplished.

The coin -chute previously referred to is open at the bottom, andimmediately below it is a coin-receptacle 35. The edge portions of thelower end of the coin-chute are cut away, as indicated at 36 and 37, andinto the cutaway portion 36 enters the lowermost end of the coin-engagedlever 34 directly in the path of a falling coin. To the rigid block orcrossbar 12 is secured a spring 40, the lower end of which enters thecut-away portion 37 of the coin chute, and the lower end of this springis connected by a flexible cord or chain 41 to the delivery-drum 28,said cord or chain passing from a suitable shoe 42 to change its lead,and when the delivery-drum is moved on the discharging movement for apredetermined extent the spring will be drawn far enough out from thecut-away portion 37 to permit the entered coin to fall into thereceptacle.

Under normal conditions and the parts being in the position shown, itbeing premised that the machine is adjusted to be operated by a nickel,the deposit of a coin of that character will cause slight downwardmovement of the forward end of the lever 34; but the weight of the coinis not sufficient to move the spring 40. The upper end of thecoin-engaged lever 34 will move upward against the stop-pin 43, and thismovement will be checked by said stop-pin 43 before the coin can fallfrom the coin-chute, the space between the lower end of the lever andthe spring 40 being less than the diameter of the coin. The upwardmovement of the lever 34 is sufficient to move it from engagement withthe teeth 33, and if the push-rod is then forced in the movement will beimparted to the delivery-drum, and the discharging-fingers 25 will beforced outward to engage below the second cigar, while the fingers 26will be drawn inward to release the first cigar and allow it to drop tothe deliverytrough.

Should a penny, counterfeit coin, dime, or any other coin or token ofless diameter than a nickel be placed in the coin-chute, it will strikethe lower end of the lever 34 and move the latter from engagement withthe teeth 33, or the diameter being less than the diameter of a nickelwill be sufficient to permit the immediate passage of the coin, so thatonly an exceptionally quick inward push of the delivery-rod will effectmovements of all of the catch-teeth 33 beyond the end of the lever 34and serve to deliver a cigar.

The stop-pin 43, herein before referred to, is in the form of acrank-pin disposed at the end of an arm 44, that projects radially froma small bolt or shaft 45, arranged in the end of the bar 11, and byturning this shaft the crankpin may be brought nearer to or moved to agreater distance from the lever 34, and so adjust the extent of movementthrough which the lever can move in order to permit proper operation ofthe machine, and by turning the shaft to move the stop-pin nearer thelever the machine may be adjusted to be operated by a dime or penny, andby moving it to a greater distance from the lever the machine may bemade to operate on the insertion of quarterdollars or larger coins.

In order to prevent injury to the lowermost cigars during the necessaryforwarding of the magazine to present fresh layers over thedelivery-trough, a pair of rails 50 are placed on top of the bar 12.

To the rear of the plate 15 is pivoted an escapement-bar 52 for swingingmovement and normally pressed downward in the direction of the bar 11 bymeans of a compression-spring 53, disposed between the plate 15 and theupper forward end of the bar 52. The lower end of the bar 52 is providedwith a series of ratchetteeth 54, there being as many teeth as there arelayers of cigars or other articles in the box or magazines, and theseteeth engage with a rigid yoke 55, that is carried by the bar 11 andholds the plates 15 from movement toward the front of the machine underthe influence of spring 57, that is tending to drive the magazinesforward. On one of the side frames is secured a stud-bolt 58, on whichis mounted a ratchetwheel 59, having a number of teeth corresponding tothe number of articles in the boxas, for instance, if the box containsfifty cigars, there will be fifty teeth on the periphery of theratchet-wheel. With the ratchet-wheel engages a pawl 61, pivoted at itsrearend to the delivery-drum 28, and at each delivery movement of thedrum the pawl is moved forward and rotates the ratchet-wheel to anextent of a single tooth, rearward movement of said ratchet-wheel beingprevented by a stoppawl 62. On the face of the ratchet-wheel are anumber of lugs 64, equivalent in number to the number of layers ofcigars in the box and spaced from each other at intervals correspondingto the number of cigars in each layer that is to say, if the first ortopmost layer contains thirteen cigars the distance between the firstand the second layers would be equivalent to thirteen ratchet-teeth, andthe distance between the second and third equivalent to twelveratchet-teeth to correspond to the twelve cigars of the second layer ofthe box. To the frame is pivoted an arbor 70, carrying two arms 71 and72, the arm 71 being disposed in the path of movement of the severallugs 64 and to be successively engaged by said lugs. The opposite arm 72is cranked and engages a stop-pin 73, that limits its move ment in onedirection, said arm being normally turned into contact with the stop-pinby means of a small tension-spring 74 extending between said arm and thefixed point of the arm. Connected to the crank-arm is a rod 77, theupper portion of which is guided in an eye 78, carried by the cross-bar11, and the upper end of said rod 7 7 is widened and preferably slightlyrecessed in order to engage a series of pins 79, carried by theescapement-bar 52. In the operation of this portion of the mechanism thedelivery movement of the drum 28 will cause rotative movement of theratchet-wheel to the extent of a single tooth, and at the completion ofthirteen delivery movements, which is equivalent to the discharge of thefirst layer of cigars, one of the lugs 64 will engage arm 71 and causeupward and rearward movement of the rod 77 against the thrust of spring74. This results in the lifting of the escapement-bar 52 against theaction of spring 53, and the first of the teeth 54 moves from engagementwith the yoke 55. The lug quickly passes beyond the arm 71, and rod 77is quickly restored to its initial position by the spring 74 allowingthe escapement-bar 52 to fall under the influence of spring 53,whereupon the second tooth 54 of said escapement-bar will engage withthe yoke, this resulting in the advance of the cigar-box for a distanceequal to the diameter of a single cigar, and thus presenting the secondlayer of cigars above the delivery-trough. This operation is carried onfor as many times as there are layers of cigars or other articles to bedelivered. It will be understood that with an apparatus of thischaracter the casing may be made to contain any desired number ofcigar-boxes bearing different brands of cigars and that the names ofsuch cigars may be advertised on the glass fronts in any appropriatemanner; but the number and arrangement or such delivery devices or anyparticular kind or character of easing form no part of the presentinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In avending-machine, an inclined support having a delivery-slot, anobliquely-disposed magazine slidably mounted on the support, auxiliaryguiding means for the maga zinc, and mechanism for automaticallyadvancing the magazine across the point of delivery after the deliveryof each successive layer which it contains.

2. In a vending-machine, an inclined support, an obliq uely-disposedmagazine arranged to contain layers of articles to be delivered, adelivery-trough, an eseapement-arm pivotall y connected to the rear ofthe magazine and provided with a plurality of escapement-teeth, a fixedtooth with which the teeth successively engage, a plurality of studsextending from the arm, means for successively engaging said studs torelease the teeth, a spring for restoring the arm to initial position,and means for feeding the magazine forward when the escapemen't-teethare released.

3. The combination in a vending-machine, of a i'nagazine, apivotally-mounted escapement-arm having a series of teeth, a fixed studor tooth with which the teeth successively engage, a spring tending toforce the escapement-arm into engagement with said stud or teeth, aplurality of pins extending from the escapement-arn'i, a spring tendingto feed the magazine toward a delivery-point, a delivery mechanism, aratchet-wheel, a pawl connected to the delivery mechanism and actuatingsaid ratchetwheel, lugs extending from said ratchet-wheel, and a rodoperable by said lugs and serving to engage the pins of theescapement-arm and move the latter to release position.

4. The combination in a vending-machine, of a magazine, a toothedescapement-arm, a fixed stud or tooth with which said teeth engage, aspring tending to force the arm into engagement with the teeth, a springtending to force the magazine toward a deliverypoint, a deliverymechanism, a ratchet-wheel, a pawl connected to the delivery mechanismand actuating on the ratchet-wheel, a plurality of lugs extending fromsaid ratchet-wheel, a pivotally-mounted lever having two arms, one ofwhich is cranked, and the other disposed in the path of movement ofthelugs, pins projecting at intervals from the escapement-arm, and aguide-rod connected to the cranked arm and adapted to engage said pins.

5. The combination in a vending-machine, of a delivery-trough, a frame,a pair of cross bars carried by the frame, a magazine-carrying plate, aguiding-bar secured thereto and extending through a guiding-recess inone of the arms, and a sheet-metal magazine-carrier secured to the plateand having movable flange portions for contact with a member of themagazine.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. HONABARGER.

\Vitnesses:

R. E. CLARK, JOHN STROME.

